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Sessions didnt read the DOJs scathing reports on the departments, but hes pretty sure theyre overblown. Photo: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Under President Obama, the Justice Department opened investigations into more than two dozen police departments, and worked out formal reform agreements known as consent decrees with 14 departments.

On Monday, Attorney General Jeff Sessions took the first steps toward undoing those reforms, ordering his his staff to review all existing or contemplated reform agreements nationwide. In a two-page memorandum dated March 31, Sessions lists the Trump administrations law enforcement principles, and says all of the Justice Department activities should be reviewed to ensure that they comply.

In addition to promoting public safety and protecting civil rights, these tenets include promoting officer safety, officer morale, and public respect for their work and keeping the misdeeds of individual bad actors from undermining the legitimate and honorable work done by law enforcement.

Local control and local accountability are necessary for effective local policing, Sessions writes. It is not the responsibility of the federal government to manage non-federal law enforcement agencies.

The Obama administration took the opposite view. As a result of the outrage over the 1991 beating of Rodney King, Congress gave the federal government the power to investigate police departments for civil rights abuses in 1994. The Obama administration used that power more aggressively than previous administrations, entering into about four times as many consent decrees as the Bush administration.

Sessions could not unilaterally scrap the reform agreements that are already in place, according to the New York Times, but its unclear what this means for agreements that have yet to be finalized. On Monday, Justice Department lawyers went to court to request a 90-day delay on a consent decree reached with the Baltimore Police Department just before President Trumps inauguration. The agreement has yet to be approved by a judge.

The Baltimore agreement stems from the 2015 death of Freddie Gray while in police custody. In August, a Justice Department report said their investigation found a pattern and practice of discrimination against black residents by police. While Gene Ryan, the head of the local police union in Baltimore, supports the delay, Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh and Police Commissioner Kevin Davis said it could undermine the progress theyve made. Any interruption in moving forward may have the effect of eroding the trust that we are working hard to establish, Pugh said.

The delay also puts efforts to reform the Chicago Police Department in jeopardy. During the final days of the Obama administration, the Justice Department released a scathing report on Chicago police, saying it found evidence of inadequate training, widespread use of excessive force, and bias against blacks and Latinos.

Last month, Sessions dismissed the Justice Departments reports on the police departments in Chicago and Ferguson, Missouri, though he admitted, I have not read those reports, frankly. He told the Huffington Post that judging from the summaries he had seen, Some of it was pretty anecdotal, and not so scientifically based.

In a joint statement on Monday night, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Superintendent Eddie Johnson of the Chicago police said that regardless of Sessionss review, they will continue moving ahead with their efforts to reform the police department.

The reforms we have made over the past year are built on the principles of partnership and trust between our residents and our officers, and they laid the foundation for the 2017 reform plan we outlined just a few weeks ago, Emanuel and Johnson wrote. Reform is in our self-interest and that is why Chicago has been, is, and always will be committed to reform.

National Urban League president Marc Morial, the former mayor of New Orleans, told USA Today that if Sessions really wants to be tough on crime, he should take a closer look at how locals view the Justice Departments reform efforts.

The attorney general is making this decision in a vacuum, Morial said. Theres no indication that hes spoken to mayors or police chiefs or community leaders around the nation. It appears that the only people hes really heard from are the police union officials and I think thats not the way a decision ought to be made. I think that he owes an obligation to the stakeholders in these individual communities to learn more about these consent decrees.

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The attack came days after the Trump administration indicated that it is comfortable with the Syrian dictator remaining in power.

Trump defenders no longer have to charge shadowy deep state operatives with conspiring against the 45th president.

The MTA now expects the repairs to take 15 months instead of 18.

Extreme vetting may require even short-term visitors from U.S. allies to hand over their phones, passwords, finances, and ideological views.

The employee, Monica Douglas, alleges that she was subjected to years of racist slurs by the networks former comptroller.

His message of tribalism is his most successful and dangerous accomplishment.

The Democrats most unlikely holy warrior smells rebellion in the air.

GOP representatives say theyre close to unveiling a proposal that would weaken protections for people with preexisting conditions.

The attorney general ordered a review of police reform agreements nationwide to ensure they dont violate the Trump administrations principles.

You have to understand where the levers are, said a defense official. You dont have to like it, but that is where they are.

This is just the latest sign that Gorka, ostensibly a counterterrorism expert, has deep ties to Hungarys far-far-right.

The much-derided chairman of the House Intelligence Committee is not in any kind of tangible political trouble in his conservative district.

An explosive new report from the Washington Post alleges the shadowy founder of the Blackwater security firm held secret talks in the Seychelles.

A total of $78,333.32.

In 2015, Sanderss free college bill had zero co-sponsors. The one introduced Monday already has five.

The pathetically weak separation between the president and his office keeps getting weaker.

After a warm White House reception for a leader the Obama administration had shied away from because of human-rights concerns.

If the Democrats attempt to block Gorsuch leads to the abolition of the filibuster, that would be a good thing.

In response, the GOP seems ready to go nuclear.

Dozens more were injured in the blast in the subway system of Russias second-largest city.

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Sessions Moves to Roll Back Obama-Era Police Reforms - New York Magazine

New York Times

Trump Completes Repeal of Online Privacy Protections From Obama Era New York Times The Republican opponents of the Obama-era rules, which would have gone into effect later this year, said they would have unfairly placed restrictions on broadband providers, like Verizon and Comcast, that were more stringent than those on internet ... Trump Signs Bill Wiping Away Obama's Internet Privacy RuleWestern Journalism Trump just killed Obama's internet-privacy rules here's what that means for youBusiness Insider Trump Eliminates Obama-Era Rule That Protects Americans' Internet PrivacyPoliticusUSA The White House -Comcast Corporation -AT&T Public Policy Blog -GoFundMe all 575 news articles »

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Trump Completes Repeal of Online Privacy Protections From Obama Era - New York Times

The Trump administration is twisting itself into knots attempting to prove or justify the Presidents tweets about Barack Obama and his former administration officials wiretapping Trump Tower between November and Inauguration Day, while some of those high ranking Obama officials are once again using their twitter accounts to fire back at Trump.

When will Sleepy Eyes Chuck Todd and @NBCNews start talking about the Obama SURVEILLANCE SCANDAL and stop with the Fake Trump/Russia story? Trump fired off from Twitter early Saturday morning. Former Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes, fired back, as he is prone to do with little self awareness, There is no Obama SURVEILLANCE SCANDAL even when you capitalize the words.

As the facts about who surveilled whom during the transition get sorted out, it is useful to remember whyTrumps team and his supporters have reason to be suspicious, thanks to a long documented history of Obama using shady surveillance tactics on both political opponents and international allies. Rhodes himself knows this historybut that doesnt seem to matter as he once again attempts to make people believe he fell out of the sky and onto Twitter on January 21st, 2017.

To help jog Rhodes memory, below are all the documented instances of the Obama administration using and in some cases abusing surveillance.

1.Fox News reporter James Rosen

In 2013 the news broke that Eric Holders Justice Departmenthad spied on James Rosen. Obamas DOJ collected Rosens telephone records as well as tracked his movements to and from the State Department from where he reported. Rosen was named as a possible co-conspirator in a Justice Department affidavit. Rosen claims thathis parents phone linewas also swept up in the collection of his records and DOJrecords seem to confirm that. Despite the targeting of Rosen, there were no brave calls to boycott the White House Correspondents Dinner.

2. Senate Intelligence Committee and the CIA

CIA officerspenetrated a networkused to share information by Senate Intel committee members, including Sen. Diane Feinstein, the committees Democrat chair. The bombshell New York Times report went on to disclose:

The C.I.A. officials penetrated the computer network when they came to suspect that the committees staff had gained unauthorized access to an internal C.I.A. review of the detention program that the spy agency never intended to give to Congress. A C.I.A. lawyer then referred the agencys suspicions to the Justice Department to determine whether the committee staff broke the law when it obtained that document. The inspector general report said that there was no factual basis for this referral, which the Justice Department has declined to investigate, because the lawyer had been provided inaccurate information. The report said that the three information technology officers demonstrated a lack of candor about their activities during interviews with the inspector general.

The Obama White House defended CIA director John Brennans actions and response. Imagine that.

3. Associated Press Phone Records

Much like James Rosen and his shady al Qaeda looking parents, Obamas Justice Departmentsecretly obtained months of phone recordsbelonging to AP journalists while investigating a failed terror attack. And much like the Rosen spying, this was personally approved by Attorney General Holder.

Mass surveillance and expansion of such under the Patriot Act is one of the most historically prevalent things about the Obama administration. Theres even a Wikipedia pagededicated to that alone. So why do the media and former administration officials act shocked and surprised when someone points the finger in their direction and asksif targeting an incoming President is possible?

There is a long, decorated history of questionableeven unconstitutionalsurveillance from the Obama administration none of which proves Trumps twitter ravings to be true. But it certainly is enough to raise suspicions among Trumpssupporters and even some of this critics that he could be perfectly correct.

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Obama administration spying included press, allies, Americans - Fox News

The former FLOTUS glows, no matter what state her hair is in!

Michelle Obama, known for her effortless poise, has finally decided to let her hair down...literally!

Since resigning from their D.C. duties, the Obamas appear to be enjoying some downtimeand the latest picture of Mrs. Obamarocking her natural hair in a curly ponytail only solidifies it.

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For years, Blackwomen have grown to love Obama for her polished presentation, but longed for Obama to show her hair in its natural state.

I remember wishing w all my heart, FLOTUS would walk out with her fro out, said Twitter user Della Copelandin reaction to the picture surfacing.

Although her longtime stylist Johnny Wright says our former FLOTUS has been "creamy crack" free for over7 years, she's opted to wearher hair mostly straight in the public eye.

However, during a 2015 interview with The Root, Wright got natural hair enthusiasts excited when he shared that Obama could eventually go full on natural. "I dont know," he said. "Maybe on vacation she willshe is 100 percent natural now. It is a possibility.

Two years later, the natural hair community has gotten the picture theyve been dreaming of!

With a growing number of celebrities choosing to show off their natural hair textures in the last decade, Obama's candid addition is well received. And this isn't the first time a picture of a texture haired FLOTUShas surfaced.

In 2012, a photoshopped picture of her with a curly frobegan to circulate. The hair in the picture actually belonged to bloggerMae Tapp, who toldXOJane,

For years, wearing a natural hair style has been seen by some people as not 'professional' or 'elegant' enough. With more women embracing and wearing their natural texture, many of these negative stereotypes are slowly being diminished."

She also told ESSENCE,"There have been so many positive responses to seeing Mrs. Obama go natural, so I hope it inspires her to try and wear more curly styles." Looks like it worked!

Subscribe to ourdaily newsletterfor the latest in hair, beauty, style and celebrity news.

It's no secret that for years, Black womenin the spotlight have opted to keep their hair laid and straight, often as afoot in the door to major gigs, so seeinga former First Lady rocking her hair in its natural state is definitely a big deal!

And it seems Obamas supporters are far more enthused about her tresses in their au natural state.

Black twitter flooded timelines with sentiments of affection for Michelles natural mane and validated that the former FLOTUS glows no matter what state her hair is in!

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Michelle Obama Wears Her Natural Hair In Public For First Time Ever - Essence.com

W

ASHINGTON In less than three months in office, President Trump has made abundantly clear he will not approach health and medicine the same way his predecessor did.

He is proposing dramatic funding cuts to the National Institutes of Health. He has already tried and so far failed to repeal much of the Affordable Care Act, Barack Obamas signature legislation. The early signals of how hell handle the opioid crisis have recovery advocates on edge.

Yet some things stay the same. Despite Trumps bluster on reining in drug prices, no major reforms appear imminent. The president and House Republicans sought to overturn Obamacare but were caught up with infighting, couldnt get the votes, and the law remains in place.

Three months ago, STAT looked at five key areas and assessed whether Trump was likely to diverge from Obama or not. Now were revisiting those issues, focusing on the new presidents record so far.

Obama vs. Trump: 5 ways they clash or dont on health and science

President Obama signed some of the mostsignificant funding increases for the NIH in years. His administration launched major programs like the Vice President Joe Bidens cancer moonshot and the Precision Medicine Initiative.

Trump is moving fastin the opposite direction.

He wants to cut NIH funding by $1.2 billion this year. Next year, under his proposed budget, the agencys budget would be slashed by another $5.8 billion. Trumps aides have defended the cuts, and Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price said the government has long been wasting money on overhead for universities and other institutions that receive NIH grants. But researchers across the country have warned of devastating consequences if Trumps proposed cuts were actually enacted.

Congressional Republicans are dubious about the proposals, and they ultimately hold the purse strings. It is also possible that Trump will keep current NIH Director Francis Collins, who is seen as an effective frontman for the agency.

But the presidents budget is an inescapable tell that the agency, the engine of so much of Americas biomedical enterprise, is entering a new age of uncertainty.

The ignominious end of the American Health Care Act, the Obamacareoverhaul backed by Trump and the House Republican leadership, is a reminder of how difficult it is to pass sweeping bills even when one party controls the entire government.

The bill would have rolled back much of Obamacares coverage gains and fundamentally overhauled Medicaid, in apparent violation of Trumps pledge not to cut the low-income insurance program. The consequences: 24 million more people would be uninsured in 2026, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

But revolts from the right and the middle the former angry the bill didnt fully repeal the ACA, the latter concerned with coverage losses stopped the legislationin the House. House leaders and Trump are still pledging to revisit health care, but, for now, Obamacare is the law of the land.

And after this failed overhaul of Medicaid, any major changes to Medicare which House Speaker Paul Ryan has long sought but Trump seemed to blanch from during the campaign seem even more unlikely.

Shortly before Trump was sworn into office, Obama signed the first major bill addressing the nations opioid epidemic and approving another $1 billion in new spending to fund its programs. During the presidential campaign, Trump pledged to end the crisis, which is now killing more than 30,000 Americans every year.

Toward that end, he has established a new presidential commission focused on the crisis. It will be led by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who is generally respected for his humane approach to drug addiction. Trump has also interviewed candidates to be his White Houses drug czar, like former New Hampshire Congressman Frank Guinta, who fit a similar profile though the president has not yet selected anyone for the position, to the chagrin of D.C.-based recovery advocates.

On the other hand, however, some advocates are wary of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, one of Trumps top allies, who has infamously equated marijuana to heroin. Trumps budget is another area of concern; he has proposed slashing the HHS budget by nearly 20 percent and singled out programs like a mental health block grantfor deep cuts.

Rhetoric will only take Trump so far, and some advocates see reason to fear what policies Trump will actually implement.

Among Trumpsmost unorthodox positions as a Republican candidate for president was his pledge to take on the drug industry and bring down drug prices. It would have been his chance to tame a dragon that even eluded Obama, who found himself entangled with drug makers after they backed Obamacare.

But so far, Trump hasnt taken any significant steps to back up his pledge. Many people around Washington took note of the way Trump talked during his White House meeting with several major pharma executives he seemed to be speaking their language. His focus wasmore on removing regulatory barriers, lowering taxes, and letting the free market work than on direct government intervention.

Trump could still make a big play to rein in drug costs. He has met with Democratic Congressman Elijah Cummings of Maryland on the issue, and Cummings seems to believe Trump is serious about making good on his pledges.

But with all the other issues consuming Washington, and health care in general on the back burner for now, major drug pricing reforms may be a ways off.

In his first 70 days, Trump hasnt yet faced an outbreak on the scale of the Ebola and Zika crises that tested Obama though an avian flu strain has been wreaking havoc in China. But public health officials remainwary, after Trump showed a predilection for health conspiracies and fear-mongering while he was a private citizen.

And, once again, Trumps spending planssignal a major shift from the Obama years. He has proposed cutting the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions funding by more than $300 million this year. His 2018 budget didnt specify funding cuts for CDC, but key lawmakers have warned that the level of spending cuts Trump wants would mean every agency would likely face some kind of reduction.

Trump has also allowed the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, which usually helps head up the response to health emergencies, to wither away, according to a recent report in the New York Times.

Dylan Scott can be reached at dylan.scott@statnews.com Follow Dylan on Twitter @dylanlscott Add Dylan on Facebook

Original post:
Obama vs. Trump: Early report card on how health and science are changing - STAT